Heavy rains hit Tamil Nadu coast as Cyclone Nivar approaches

With Cyclone Nivar set to make landfall late on November 24 or in the early hours of Thursday, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister has declared a public holiday on Thursday for 13 districts including Chennai. The wind speed of the cyclone continues to be high and during landfall the wind speed can go upto 110 to 140kmph.

Tamil Nadu and Puducherry had earlier declared November 24 a public holiday. Many trains and and flights have been cancelled. All three ports in Chennai have been closed.

Puducherry streets are deserted since Thursday morning as locals stay indoors in the anticipation of severe cyclonic storm Nivar.

The Indian Meterological Department suggests that by the outer ring of the cyclone will start moving towards the land and the eye of the storm will make landfall soon after that. The likely location of the landfall will be somewhere between Mahabalipuram and Puducherry.

IMD alerted that Cyclone Nivar is gradually intensifying. It could cause structural damage, uprooting of tress, damage to the thatched/tin houses and damage to banana and paddy crops. There will be strong winds and heavy rains.

The NDRF and other response team are on high alert as the cyclone is likely to hit the coasts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry hard. Very heavy rain is likely in several districts of Tamil Nadu. More heavy to very heavy rain expected in isolated places in TN, Puducherry.

Southern Railway cancelled more train for November 26 and November 27.

South-Western railways also cancelled two trains scheduled for tomorrow in view of the cyclone.